In a dramatic twist of event, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Tuesday afternoon, unsealed the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP) Office in Umuahia, which was earlier barricaded.
It was reported Tuesday morning on social media that, the RHP Office, located at No. 12, Ojike lane, Umuahia was sealed off by the Abia State Government.
Officials of the State Government from the Ministry of Land and Housing, were said to have stormed the office Tuesday morning, with heavy security, drove out all the members of APC and Coordinators who were said to be in a meeting planning polling unit inauguration of the association; and sealed off the premises at gun point.
No reason was given for the sealing. The officials, however, said they were acting on the order from above, flying a court paper which was not readable to the APC members.
The Renewed Hope Partners (RHP), is an initiative of the leader of APC in Abia State, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The RHP which has structures in all the Local Government Areas and Council Wards, is the major tool established by the APC leadership, to sensitise the people of South East Nigeria, on the gains and activities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and to galvanize grassroots support for President Tinubu’s government.
Confirming the activities of the State Governor against the Renewed Hope Partners and APC members in Abia, the Spokesperson of RHP, Comrade Elton Onwu, said the APC family and especially, the Tinubu Renewed Hope Partners has tolerated a lot from Governor Otti since the beginning of 2025; adding that, the seal-off of the President’s office in Umuahia was not the first onslaught against Tinubu structures in the state.
Comrade Onwu said, “In two weeks, Governor Alex Otti has shut down two centers in Umuahia alone, because the name – President Tinubu was mentioned there. The story of Abia hotel is still out there, where he revoked a 30 year lease because they hosted an event that promoted the President.
“At Obingwa LGA, he tried to shut down church service of the Catholic Church, for allowing Renewed Hope Partners of the President to host their event in their paid field .
“At Osisioma, he came to also shut down the event center to stop the hosting of the Renewed Hope Partners, but was resisted by the APC youth who were already tired of the intimidation and clamping down on their President’s structures.
“It is still 2025 and Gov Alex Otti has brought out his real self for Abians to see a man who marched on the street as opposition, attacking previous government in the state, unfortunately, he can’t take any criticism”.
Onwu wondered why, someone who claimed to be the friend of President Tinubu, is intentional in shutting down all the visibility of Mr. President in Abia State, adding that, such claims by the Governor is pretentious and has been proven to be only in words, not action.
“This same Governor who refused to hang the official portrait of President Tinubu in his office for three months, believing that he would lose to his party (LP) candidate in court, is now going around dealing with all his face on adverts and offices used to promote his policies and projects across South East.
“Is Alex Otti contesting for President? Why is he fighting every thing that has the image of the President, or is it true he is working for his closest ally, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi to retire President Tinubu in 2027? It comes clear daily”, he added.
Meanwhile, when our Reporter visited the premises Tuesday afternoon, the barricade has been removed and the office unsealed.
Reacting, one of the staff working with the RHP, who identified himself as Okorie, said, “the officials of the state arrived at the premises awhile ago and removed the tapes and seal which they had pasted earlier, and left in a hurry”.
Okorie said the decision of the state government to change its mind, was not unconnected to the video of their outing which went viral in the morning, saying, “they came back and hurriedly unsealed the office and left immediately”.
